No longer of a status where folks assume you’re talking about Oregon when the city of Portland comes up in conversation, Portland, Maine has been in the process of sweeping changes over the last couple of decades.
Going from a 40% vacancy rate in the late 90s to being dubbed “Best Restaurant City of the Year” by Bon Appetit in 2018, Portland is a foodie’s dream come true, whether your groove is pizza, craft beer, fine dining, lobster rolls…or coffee shop cuisine.
Many of these fine establishments do their roasting in-house, but those that do not still serve up perfectly delightful cups of caffeinated joy alongside homemade baked goods, sandwiches, and treats.
And, rather than kick off this write-up with the most well-known spots in the city, I’ve decided to begin with a couple of hidden gems. You’re welcome!
Map of Portland Coffee Shops
Dealing with a caffeine craving? Want to find a quiet place to start your morning? This map showing off the Portland coffee shops listed in this article will help you beeline to your next cuppa:
Rwanda Bean
Spectacular coffee aside, the owners of this farmer-focused shop are committed to donating half of their coffee profits back to the farmers that grow the beans, thus allowing them to give back to their own communities in turn.
Offering several different coffee subscription options and special pop-up menus (their waffle breakfast sandwiches are indescribably scrumptious), Rwanda Bean reminds their customers that “every sip spreads hope.”
Location: 290 Thompsons Point Rd, Portland, ME 04102
Website: Rwanda Bean
Burundi Star
No urban-chic décor or trendy industrial aesthetic here; Burundi Star is tucked into a strip mall.
But for co-owners Jocelyne Kamikazi and Mike Mwenedata of Burundi Star, it’s all about sustainability and fair trade; doing their best to entwine their experiences from their respective homes in Burundi and Rwanda with their lives here in Portland.
A coffee farmer’s daughter, Jocelyne was horrified at the decline in quality of life for her family during a visit to Burundi—coffee farming could no longer support them.
But now, by sourcing the beans for the shop from home, the owners of Burundi Star have injected new life and renewed hope, for both families in Burundi and Rwanda.
Location: 261 St John St, Portland, ME 04102
Website: Burundi Star
Coffe by Design
One of the biggest players in the city, the arrival of Coffee by Design (CBD, to locals) in 1994 to the now-Arts District has frequently been touted as the spark that ignited the area’s revival.
Proud of their community-betterment efforts, CBD funds a needy local artist/arts organization via a portion of coffee sales.
Their house-roasted coffees include single-origin, blends, decaf, and flavored varieties, and all of their bright, welcoming locations feature original artwork by local creators.
CBD also has a location at the L.L. Bean flagship store in Freeport, and all locations offer edibles from local bakeries.
Locations: 1 Diamond St, Portland, ME 04101, 67 India St, Portland, ME 04101, 620 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101
Website Coffee by Design
Tandem
Another in-house roastery, Tandem’s single-roast and blended coffees are superb, yes—but ask anyone in the know and they’ll mention their baked goods, first…especially Tandem’s famous Loaded Biscuits.
Their quirky Congress Street shop is ensconced in an old gas station, and Condé Nast has said that this spot is a “must-do” for any foodie making the rounds in Portland; their breakfast and dessert offerings are well worth the wait (if you go in-season, there WILL be a line).
You can also sign up for a coffee subscription—no more running to the corner store in your pajamas when you realize you’re down to a dusting of grounds or a half-dozen beans.
Locations: 122 Anderson St, Portland, ME 04101, 742 Congress St, Portland, ME 04102
Website: Tandem
Bard Coffee
Bard sources their house-roasted coffees from the same farmers around the world every year, providing these hard-working folks the stability that is so often lacking in the coffee-growing industry.
Proud of their state-of-the-art, best-practice roasting and brewing processes, Bard is constantly creating and perfecting their coffee profiles to bring you the most amazing cup of coffee possible.
Their bright, urban-chic interior is warm and welcoming, as are the baristas who serve up their single-origin coffees and rotating selection of local baked goods.
Location: 185 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101
Website: Bard Coffee
Little Woodfords
Consistently included in “top 10 coffee shop” lists by heavy hitters like Vogue, Food and Wine, and Condé Nast, Little Woodfords uses Vivid Coffee, out of Vermont.
Cheerful, sun-filled, and colorful, this little café is a visual delight—perfect to sit and enjoy a breakfast sandwich or locally-baked tidbit while sipping your hot (or cold) beverage of choice; you can also order your coffee online.
Location: 316A Congress St, Portland, ME 04101
Website: Little Woodfords
Speckled Ax
Known for their lighter roasts, Speckled Ax strives to provide equality to their growers by purchasing beans at a price far above fair-trade minimum.
They offer roasted-to-order (in their wood-fired, vintage, Italian Petroncini) subscription service for their single-origin and blended coffees, as well as a small selection of pastries and cookies from Portland bakeries.
The vibe is urban-industrial, and the baristas are professional and knowledgeable.
Location: 567 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101
Website: Speckled Ax
Arabica Coffee Company
With an eye on sustainability and ethical harvesting, the Arabica Coffee Company orders its green coffee beans from New Jersey-based Royal New York—and then uses their custom-built equipment to roast them to single-origin perfection (along with a few “post-roast” blends).
Arabica also offers a coffee subscription service and a few homemade nibbles to accompany your freshly-brewed coffee.
Their corner shop exudes a comfortable atmosphere with muted warm colors balanced by the trendy brick interior and rustic wooden floors.
Location: 2 Free St, Portland, ME 04101
Website: Arabica Coffee Company
The Propper Cup
The epitome of a cute, local café, The Proper Cup doesn’t roast their own beans—they come from Flight Coffee in New Hampshire—but, man, can they serve up a dynamite cuppa joe!
Tucked away in Woodford’s Corner, this specialty coffee spot has the feel of an undiscovered gem, with its eclectic décor and tidy little menu of local baked goods and sandwiches from a nearby deli.
Location: 500 Forest Ave, Portland, ME 04101
Website: The Proper Cup
Higher Grounds
This cleverly-named spot claims to be the East Coast’s first cannabis coffee shop—and who am I to argue?
With Speckled Ax coffee on offer alongside their many medical cannabis and hemp CBD (nope, that’s not Coffee By Design, folks) items, this place is truly unique.
Their baristas are well-versed in all things coffee AND cannabis—and there is even an in-house Nurse Practitioner you can schedule an appointment with.
Location: 45 Wharf St, Portland, ME 04101
Website:Higher Grounds
Coffee ME Up
This husband-and-wife-run shop feels like you’re sitting in your best friend’s kitchen—warm, bright, comfortable, and friendly.
With a long list of hot and cold coffee/tea offerings as well as a larger-than-most breakfast and lunch menu, this happy little café seems to have filled a gap that many locals didn’t realize even existed; reviews rave about the attention to detail, the friendly, attentive staff, and their eagerness to connect with every person that walks through the door.
Location: 221 Cumberland Ave, Portland, ME 04101
Website: Coffee ME Up
Burke’s Perks Café and Grill
Small but mighty, Burke’s is located in bustling Monument Square—and as they offer breakfast, lunch, and coffee…well, they’re pretty much always busy.
Espresso, latte, cappuccino—all made to order, with specialty non-dairy “milk” options, including soy, almond, oat, coconut, and, yes—even goat milk.
Burke’s also makes their own breakfast burritos and sandwiches, as well as their lunchtime menu of wraps, gyros, sandwiches, and salads.
Location: 23 Monument Sq, Portland, ME 04101
Website: Burke’s Perks Café and Grill
Out of space, out of time…but here are just a couple more spots you should set aside an hour to visit—and here’s why.
The Brioche Egg Sandwich (scrambled eggs, cheddar, spicy aioli, and pickled shallots on a sesame seed brioche bun—bacon optional) with a cup of fresh-brewed drip coffee at Hilltop Coffee Shop will knock your socks off, and for a deliciously strong cup of Vietnamese coffee (just as amazing iced as hot), Yordprom Coffee Shop on Congress Street is beyond compare.
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